Aircraft Catches Fire Shortly after Takeoff

Editor/

A Southwest Airlines flight 3923 from Havana to Ford Lauderdale, Florida became a terrifying hellscape after a bird struck one of it’s engines, soon after takeoff yesterday, causing an engine to catch fire.

On-board footage shows panicked passengers engulfed in smoke with oxygen masks lowered and parents attempting to help their children. It was reported not all masks were properly released, and some had bloodied knuckles from banging on the roof in desperation.

Passenger Steven Rodriguez told NBC 6 there was “a big boom, like an explosion” before the cabin started to fill with smoke and emergency lighting came on.

Rodriguez told WSVN, “It was like a burn smell, and it was hurting my face. My eyes got real red. My chest started to burn.”  

With only one engine functioning on the Boeing 737, a heroic female pilot made a safe emergency landing at Cuba’s Jose Marti Airport.

“Southwest flight #3923 departing Havana, Cuba, for Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday morning reportedly experienced bird strikes to an engine and the aircraft’s nose shortly after takeoff,” a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said in a statement.

“We commend the swift, professional actions of our pilots and flight attendants in responding to this event. We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience and have reached out to address their needs and offer support.”

Rodriguez claimed that the safety precautions, like masks, available to passengers were of little use. 

“People started taking matters into their own hands and by force were punching the roof to eject the masks,” Rodriguez told NBC6. “And people had bloody knuckles and all because they were punching the roof. There were little kids on the plane and elderly women.”

None of the 147 passengers and crew of six was injured and passengers were able to safely get off the plane at Marti Airport.

The captain was given praise and applause from travelers upon being able to land the plane. 

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